Tire



May 22, 923.

TIRE

Filed May 20; 1922 2 SheetsSheet 1 )1 Z6 Z5" 3 55 E 27 72/0/1745 f. /%q/P,

May 22, 1923. 7 1,456,202

T. E. WARE TIRE Filed May '20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 5 3mm 22 /5 I 790mm: /7 /4/?,

Fatented May 22, 1923.

rHoMAs-n. wean, or LITTLE-ROCK, annansas, ASSIGNCR or onn sixrri TO JAM S" K. RIZEFEL, ONE-SIXTH TO FRANK H. DODGE, ONE-SIXTH TO JAIIIES IM. STEWART, AND ONE-HALF-TO ELV'A WARE, ALL OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS IRE.

T all whomit may concern;

Be it known that LTHOMAS- E. Vania,- a citizen of the United States residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State oi Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tires, of which the following is specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings.

This invention relates to improvements in tires, and more particularly to puncture prooi'tire.

Auimportant object of theinvention is to provide a tire of this character which may be readily constructed andwhich will lita standard wheel rim. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a tire which while pneumatically cushioned is so constructed to prevent all likelihood of punctures or blow outs.

An additional object or the intentionis to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction andarrangement, durable in service, and a general improvement intheart.

These and other objects 1' attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout.

In'the drawings: i

Figure l'is a side elevation partially section showing a tire constructed in ac cordance with myinvention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 23- 3 of Figure 2; V

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken through the tire; and I Figure 5 is a vertical section taken through one of the pistons and showing the use of a flexible lining therein.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral designates the tire proper which is provided in its interior adjacent its periphery with an annular recess 11 against the upper or outer wall of which, and opposing the tread, is disposed a strengthening band of fabric 12 having secured thereto spaced cups 12:

The numeral 13 designates a plate hav- 1922. seriaino. 562,362.

ing extending upwardly" therefrom at.

spaced intervals, cy'lindersl l', theouter ends ot which are closed; as designatedati15.

he inner ends, or those ends of the cylin- 'ders which will'be disposed nextiadjacent the telly 16 of the wheel to which the-tire 0 is attached,: are closed by reinoyable plates j l7 which when TGIILOYQCl permit access tozw the interior of the cylinders. These cyhnders are arranged at spaced intervals tow the tire and each have: mounted therein a piston 18 having packing such as leather,

as indicated at 19, foraengagement' withi the walls of the cylinders. Each piston has its stem 20 directed through an opening' formed in the upper end 15 of thecylinder" and abutting against. the cups 12 It will .be seen that upon compression of l the tire, one or more of the pistons of. the

cylinders will be moved inwardlyby' en-:.

gagement of the cups l2 therewith. This is due to collapsing of the side wallsi of the annular recess'underthe action ofthe'u weight of the vehicle upon the wheelsof;

wl ich the-tire is being employed."

Ad acent portions of the cylinders are con-' nected by passageways 21 communicating with the interior otthe'cylinders"adjacent the inner ends thereofby means of p'orts22."-,

All of these channelways' are inI'c'om'rnu n'i cation with an airfiiiletwfalve 23"by 'ineans In the use of the tire the same-is inflated I v I g of which -a desired pressure maybe pla'ceclf against the pistons within, their cylinders:

to the desired pressure and this pressure.

bearing againstthe inner fa'ce's'of the pistons tends to hold the tread outwardlyagainst the action of roughness of the road. When an obstruction is encountered, the pistons will move inwardly against the pressure and will be cushioned thereby, giving to the tread a pneumatic cushion without the danger of theair forming the cushion being released by a cut in the tread.

If desired a lining may be provided for each of the cylinders let which is sealed to the cylinderand to the piston, and which lining is in communication with the passages 21. In the present. 1nstance I have shown the piston 18 affording means for securing thereto the cup leather l9 and i'orlikewise securing thereto the lining 23 This lining is preferably formed of rubber or some other expansible material and has its lower end out-turnech as indicated at 24, for engagement and maintenance in position by the removable head plate 17. The upper end of the lining is'hel d in position against the piston 18 by means oi a clampin plate 25 and nut 26. In the side walls or the lining at points corresponding with the thermore be obvious that the flexible seal thus provided will effectually prevent the leakage of the air and at the same time permit movement of the piston within the cylinder. It desired, the lining may be provided with a covering of canvas 29, or the like, which is drawn in immediately below the inner edges of the packing element 19 ot the cylinder so that the walls thereof will tend to buckle inwardly at 30, and permit ready movement of the piston.

It will be obvious that eventhough the tread be cut through to the annular channel 11 no loss will result in the cushioning effect of the tire and that if any of the pistons become inefficient through continued use or are destroyed by an accident, the removable plate sections covering the inner end of the cylinder within which the piston is disposed may be removed and the piston elther repaired or substituted for by a new piston. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction as hereinbei'oreset forth is capable of some change and m diiication without materially departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself thereto except as hereina'fter claimed.

I claim 1. A solid tire provided interiorly'with an annular passageway, metallic cups engaged against the outer wall of the passageway,

radially extending cylinders spaced within said tire and having integral outer walls each provided with an opening, pistons mounted within the cylinders and having stems inserted through said openings and engaging said cups, said cylinders communicating one with the other, and an inflating valve for admittlng air to said cylinders,

the inner ends of said cylinders being 'removable to permit withdrawal of the pis-' tons and the stems thereof, said tire being unremovably connected with said cylinders and cups.

2. A solid tire provided interiorly with' an annular passageway, metallic cups en gaged against the outer wall of the passageway, radially extending cylinders spaced within said tire, pistons mounted within the cylinders and having stems engaging said cups, said cylinders communicating one with the other, an inflating valve for ad-' mitting air to said cylinders, a plate secured to the inner face of the tire and to which said cylinders are attached, and reengaging said cups, flexible linings for said cylinders having their upper ends secured to said pistons, a plate secured to the inner face of said tire and to which said cylinders are attached and through which the inner ends of the cylinders open, removable cylinder heads carried by said plate closing the inner ends of said cylinders and maintain ing the lower ends of said flexible linings in position, connections between said flexible linings, and an inflating valve communicatmg with one of said connections.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

THOMAS E. WARE. 

